Dry chemical dispersion nozzle

ABSTRACT

A dry powder dispersion nozzle is provided and includes a passage therethrough having inlet and outlet ends. An elongated discharge splitting bar is supported outward of the outlet end of the passage and is disposed with its center axis substantially normal to the center axis of the outlet end of the passage. The bar includes generally planar surfaces extending lengthwise thereof and convergent toward a joining apex portion facing the outlet end of the passage and the planar surfaces include longitudinally spaced V-shaped notches formed therein extending transversely of the corresponding surfaces, increasing in depth toward and opening through the remote side edges of the planar surfaces and at least slightly convergent toward the outlet end of the passage. The bar functions to split up the powder discharged from the outlet end of the passage into two major discharge streams and the notches thereafter split up each of the two major discharge streams into multiple divergent secondary streams subject to heavy turbulence functioning to swirl and intermingle the secondary streams in such a manner to substantially &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fog&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; an enclosed area into which the nozzle is directed and of a volume mated to the flow rate and volume capacity of the nozzle.

- United States Patent [191 DePalma DRY CHEMICAL DISPERSION NOZZLE Joseph S. DePalma, Box 353, Closter, NJ. 07624 22 Filed: Aug. 13,1974

211 Appl. No.: 497,092

[76] lnventor:

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A dry powder dispersion nozzle is provided and in- July 22, 1975 cludes a passage therethrough having inlet and outlet ends. An elongated discharge splitting bar is supported outward of the outlet end of the passage and is disposed with its center axis substantially normal to the center axis of the outlet end of the passage. The bar includes generally planar surfaces extending lengthwise thereof and convergent toward a joining apex portion facing the outlet end of the passage and the planar surfaces include longitudinally spaced V- shaped notches formed therein extending transversely of the corresponding surfaces, increasing in depth toward and opening through the remote side edges of the planar surfaces and at least slightly convergent toward the outlet end of the passage. The bar functions to split up the powder discharged from the outlet end of the passage into two major discharge streams and the notches thereafter split up each of the two major discharge streams into multiple divergent secondary streams subject to heavy turbulence functioning to swirl and intermingle the secondary streams in such a manner to substantially fog an enclosed area into which the nozzle is directed and of a volume mated to the flow rate and volume capacity of the nozzle.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 DRY CHEMICAL DISPERSION NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are four basic types of dry chemical powders used for fire extinguishing purposes. A first powder consists mainly of sodium bicarbonate and is suitable for use in substantially all standard equipment. Its principal application is for Class B fires (oil, gasoline,

grease, paint, etc.). A second form of dry chemical 1 powder consists mainly of potassium carbonate and it is also used for Class B fires and is considerably more effective than sodium bicarbonate. A third form of dry chemical powder used for fire extinguishing purposes consists mainly of monoammonium phosphate and comprises a multipurpose product developed for use on Class A (ordinary combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids), and Class C (electrical) fires. In addition, a fourth and considerably superior dry chemical powder for extinguishing fires is based upon potassium chloride.

Substantially all dry chemical powder fire extinguishers utilize a pressurized inert gas for propellant purposes and the presence of pressurized gas above a charge of dry chemical powder for extended periods until such time as the associated fire extinguisher is discharged causes the various dry chemical powder charges presently in use to become packed and thus caked. If a dry chemical extinguisher having packed or caked powder therein is discharged its discharge rate is reduced, the discharge of dry chemical powder for the amount of inert gas propellant provided may be incomplete and the dry chemical powder, to at least some appreciable extent, is discharged in considerably greater particle size due to quantities of particles clinging together. The overall result is that the fogging ability of a given dry chemical extinguisher designed for a specific enclosure volume is substantially reduced with the result that maximum density of the powder discharge is not realized and all surfaces within the area into which the extinguisher is discharged, especially at least partially obscured surfaces, are not coated with the fire extinguishing powder as the powder settles after discharge of the extinguisher.

Various types of dispersion nozzles have been heretofore designed, but most dispersion nozzles of the type designed to split the main discharge have been designed primarily for use in conjunction with liquids. Nevertheless, examples of dispersion type nozzles including some of the general structural features of the nozzle of the instant invention may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 248,827, 269,20l, 564,906, 932,618, 1,165,240, 1,180,870, 1,234,959 and 2,623,788.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The dispersion nozzle of the instant invention has been specifically designed for use in conjunction with dry chemical fire extinguishers and has as its primary object to provide a dispersion nozzle which will successively break up a discharge of dry chemical powder into two main streams and thereafter break up each of the main streams into divergent secondary streams in a manner such that the secondary streams will swirl in an intermingling manner to form a dense fog-like powder discharge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispersion nozzle which will also function to break up caked particles of dry chemical powder.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a dispersion nozzle which may be readily used on substantially all types of existing dry chemical fire extinguishers.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a dry powder dispersion 0 nozzle in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and automatic in operation so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of a conventional form of dry chemical fire extinguisher equipped with the dispersion nozzle of the instant invention, the nozzle being illustrated in perspective;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen from the right side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the nozzle of the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the nozzle;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the nozzle with the initial discharge of dry chemical therefrom being schematically illustrated in superposed position on the nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a pressurized container portion of a dry chemical fire extinguisher. The container portion 10 includes an outlet neck 12 upon which a discharge valve assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 is mounted. The valve assembly 14 may be of any conventional type and includes an outlet opening 16 defined by a cylindrical boss portion 18. The boss portion 18 includes a radial bore 20 in which a setscrew 22 is threadedly engaged.

The dispersion nozzle is referred to in general by the reference numeral 24 and includes a generally cylindrical body 26 having a central discharge passage 28 formed axially therethrough. The body 26 defines an inlet end 30 and an outlet end 32 and includes an outer peripheral groove 34 in which a sealing O-ring 36 is seated. In addition, the body 26 includes a second circumferential groove 38 adjacent but spaced axially from the outlet end 32 of the body 26.

The inlet end 30 of the body 26 is snugly receivable within the outlet opening 16 in a manner such that the O-ring 36 forms a gas tight seal between the outlet opening 16 and the body 26. Further, the groove 38 is registrable with the setscrew 22 and the latter may be threaded inwardly of the bore 20 to secure the inlet end 30 of the body 26 within the outlet opening 16 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The outlet end 32 of the body 26 is somewhat enlarged in relation to the cross-sectional area of the inlet end 30 and has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. Also, the discharge passage 28 includes an enlarged outlet end 40 which is cup-shaped in cross section.

An elongated discharge splitting bar 42 is provided and is supported from the outlet end 32 of the body 26 in position spaced slightly outwardly of and in alignment with the center of the outlet end 40 of the discharge passage 28 with the bar 42 having its longitudinal center axis disposed substantially normal to the center axis of the discharge passage 28. The opposite ends of the bar 42 are supported from opposite side portions of the outlet end 32 of the body 26 by means of rigid stands 44. However, it is to be appreciated that the bar 42 may have its opposite ends in contact with the end face of the outlet end 32 of the body 26, if desired.

As may best be seen from FIG. of the drawings, the bar 42 is substantially equilateral triangular in cross section having two adjacent generally planar sides 46 and 48 extending longitudinally of the bar 42 and convergent toward an apex portion 50 facing toward the outlet end 40 of the passage 28. The apex portion 50 extends substantially along a diameter of the outlet end 40 of the discharge passage 28 and inasmuch as the bar 42 is substantially equilateral triangular in crosssectional shape the surfaces 46 and 48 define an included angle of approximately 60.

However, each of the surfaces 46 and 48 includes three transverse notches 52, 54 and 56 formed therein. The notches 52, 54 and 56 formed in the surfaces 46 and 48 are transversely registered with each other and the notches increase in depth toward and open through the remote longitudinal side edges of the surfaces 46 and 48 and the outer surface 58 of the bar 42 connecting the remote longitudinal side edges of the surfaces 46 and 48. The shallow ends of the notches 52, 54 and 56 open through the transverse mid-portions of the surfaces 46 and 48 and the notches 52, 54 and 56 in each surface 46 and 48 are convergent toward the outlet end 40 of the discharge passage 28 in a manner such that the center lines of the grooves 52, 54 and 56 extending along the surfaces 46 and 48 intersect within the enlarged outlet end 40 of the discharge passage 28.

The included angle formed by the opposite sides of each of the grooves 52, 54 and 56 is between 70 and 80 and the maximum diameter of the outlet end portion 40 of the discharge passage 28 is greater than twice the diameter of the adjacent smaller diameter portion of the discharge. passage'28. In this manner, as dry chemical is discharged under pressure through the passage 28 it is initially expanded in the outlet end portion 40 and subsequently divided into two major streams by the apex portion 50 in the surfaces 46 and 48. Thereafter, the two major streams of powder discharge are each broken up into a plurality of outwardly divergent secondary streams subject to sufficient turbulence to cause the secondary streams to swirl and intermingle with each other in a manner to form a fog-type powder discharge.

From FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that the secondary discharge paths of dry chemical powder formed by the nozzle are concentrated in an oval or elliptical discharge pattern and that the marginal portions of adjacent secondary divergent discharge paths of powder converge and overlap and it is in this manner that the secondary discharge paths of dry chemical powder are caused to swirl and fully intermingle to form a fog-type spray discharge of dry powder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dry powder dispersion nozzle comprising a body having a discharge passage formed therethrough including inlet and outlet ends, said body including jet stream deflecting means disposed outwardly of said outlet end of said passage operative to successively divide a jet discharge of dry powder from said passage into two outwardly divergent flat discharge paths extending in planes oppositely angularly displaced relative to a diametric plane of the outlet end of said passage and to subsequently divert at least three transversely spaced zone portions of the jet discharge of powder moving along each of said flat discharge paths along outwardly divergent secondary paths less angulated relative to said diametric plane than said flat discharge paths.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outlet end of said passage is enlarged in cross-sectional area, whereby the pressurized jet stream of powder discharged through said passage is expanded immediately prior to being acted upon by said jet stream deflecting means.

3. ln'combination with a nozzle body having a discharge passage formed therethrough including inlet and outlet ends and adapted to have pressurized dry powder discharged therethrough, a powder jet stream deflecting structure comprising an elongated member supported immediately outwardly of said outlet end of opening through the remote side edges of said surfaces.

said passage with the center axis of said elongated member disposed generally normal to and in alignment with the center axis of the outlet end of said passage, said elongated member including generally planar adjacent longitudinal side surfaces extending longitudinally thereof and convergent toward one pair of adjacent longitudinal edge portions thereof joined by an apex portion of said member, said side surfaces being oppositely and at least generally equally inclined relative to a diametric plane of said outlet end of said passage generally paralleled by said member, said side surfaces each including deflecting means spaced from said apex portion operative to outwardly divergently deflect at least three transversely spaced portions of the jet discharge of powder passing thereover.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said deflecting means on each side surface equal three in number with the center deflecting means of said surfaces lying in a diametric plane of said outlet end of said passage disposed generally normal to the first-mentioned diam'etric plane.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said deflecting means comprise notches formed in said surfaces plane.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said notches in each of said side surfaces diverge outwardly and the center notch in each surface is disposed in the secondmentioned diametric plane. 

1. A dry powder dispersion nozzle comprising a body having a discharge passage formed therethrough including inlet and outlet ends, said body including jet stream deflecting means disposed outwardly of said outlet end of said passage operative to successively divide a jet discharge of dry powder from said passage into two outwardly divergent flat discharge paths extending in planes oppositely angularly displaced relative to a diametric plane of the outlet end of said passage and to subsequently divert at least three transversely spaced zone portions of the jet discharge of powder moving along each of said flat discharge paths along outwardly divergent secondary paths less angulated relative to said diametric plane than said flat discharge paths.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outlet end of said passage is enlarged in cross-sectional area, whereby the pressurized jet stream of powder discharged through said passage is expanded immediately prior to being acted upon by said jet stream deflecting means.
 3. In combination with a nozzle body having a discharge passage formed therethrough including inlet and outlet ends and adapted to have pressurized dry powder discharged therethrough, a powder jet stream deflecting structure comprising an elongated member supported immediately outwardly of said outlet end of said passage with the center axis of said elongated member disposed generally normal to and in alignment with the center axis of the outlet end of said passage, said elongated member including generally planar adjacent longitudinal side surfaces extending longitudinally thereof and convergent toward one pair of adjacent longitudinal edge portions thereof joined by an apex portion of said member, said side surfaces being oppositely and at least generally equally inclined relative to a diametric plane of said outlet end of said passage generally paralleled by said member, said side surfaces each including deflecting means spaced from said apex portion operative to outwardly divergently deflect at least three transversely spaced portions of the jet discharge of powder passing thereover.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said deflecting means on each side surface equal three in number with the center deflecting means of said surfaces lying in a diametric plane of said outlet end of said passage disposed generally normal to the first-mentioned diametric plane.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said deflecting means comprise notches formed in said surfaces opening through the remote side edges of said surfaces.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said notches are generally V-shaped in cross section.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said notches increase in depth toward said remote side edges.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the bottom surfaces of corresponding notches formed in said surfaces generally parallel the first-mentioned diametric plane.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said notches in each of said side surfaces diverge outwardly and the center notch in each surface is disposed in the second-mentioned diametric plane. 